Testing device for electric lamps, fuses, and the like



Aug. 16, 1949. .1. BRISENO 2,478,999

TESTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS, FUSES AND THE LIKE Filed July 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l2 jl mnu 4 /6 7 HH H HHI W 4 1) Invgntor By 2mm awn aw m Aug. 16, 1949. J. BRlsENo TESTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS,

FUSES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1945 Inventor Patented Aug. 16, 1949 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE TESTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS,

FUSES, AND THE LIKE Jesus Brisefio, Sanv Antonio, Tex.

ADDlic'ationJuly 19, 1945, Serial No. 605,987

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates s-to-new-and useful improvements in testing devices for electric lamps, fuses and similar. electrical equipment and the invention has .for itsprimary object to provide a device of this. character embodying means for testing such electrical equipment of relatively wide range in size, such asconventional electric bulbs, or similar bulbs for Christmas tree illumination, flashlight bulbs, various types offuses and other types of electrical equipment where a test is frequently'needed to determine a defect therein.

An important object of the presentinvention is to provide a device of this character adapted for home use as wellas foruse in electrical supply stores and other commercial and industrial establishments.

A further object of theinventlo'n is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relativelyinexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter. described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective views Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the converging testing rails and plates- Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4-4 and 5--5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a diagram of the electric circuit for the tester.

Referring nowto the drawings indetaiLwherein for the purpose of illustration -I have disclosedv a preferred embodiment, of the invention. The numeral 5 designates thehousing for the tester and which includes a tray-like-portion B of lightweight metal or other,suitable;material;.and.in the top of which, at the frontend thereof is suitably secured a plate of insulation material I.

The rear end of the housing 5 is formed with an upwardly extending chamber 8 having a sloping front wall 9 provided with a window I0 and behind which an electric lamp I I is positioned in the chamber.

The rear of the chamber 8 is closed by a removable cover plate I2 to provide access to the lamp.

The upper surface of the plate I is formed with a V-shaped groove I3 to one edge of which is secured an angle conductor rail I4 while to the Opposite edge of which is secured a similar rail I5.

The upper flange of the rails I4 and I5 are recessed in the edges of the groove I3 flush with the upper surface of the plate I.

The rails I4 and I5 are maintained in spaced apart relation and to the converging end of the rail I5 is formed an inwardly projecting plate It seated in the bottom of the groove I3, the edges of the plate It likewise .being spaced from the rail I4 in parallelism with respect thereto.

Also secured in the bottom of the groove I3 at its Wider inner end is a conductor plate I! having one edge disposed in spaced parallel relation to the rail I4 and also having its front end spaced from the rear end of the plate I6 and separated by means of a cross bar of insulation material I8 flush with the upper edgesof the rails I4 and I5.

The rear edge of the plate I1, at its side adjacent the rail I4 is bent upwardly to form a 1ongitudinally extending inverted V-shaped rib I9, while the surface of the plate I'l forwardly of the rib I9 is flat as indicated more clearly in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

One side 25 of a circuit is connected to the rear end of the rail I4 while the other side 2i of the circuit is connected to the rear end of the rail I5;

A fuse 22 and manually operable switch 23 are included in the side 20 of the circuit and the electric lamp II is connected in series in the side 2I of the circuit and which is also connected to the plate I! by means of a circuit wire 24.

In the operation of the device small electric bulbs are tested between the narrow ends of the rails I4 and I5 by placing the end contact button on the base of thebulb on the plate I5 and contacting one side of the base with the rail I4. The fuses for a house circuit may likewise be tested in a similar manner at the narrow end of the rails and elongated fuses may be, tested by placing the same transversely'between the rails I4-and I5 so that the ends of the fuse contact\ the respective rails.

Larger electric bulbs may similarly be tested by contacting the end contact button on the base of the bulb on the plate I! and one side of the base of the bulb with the rail I4.

The inverted V-shaped rib I9 on the plate I! is used to test three-way electric bulbs, in which the base forms a first contact, the end contact button on the base forms a second contact, and a third intermediate annular contact is provided on the bottom of the base relatively smaller in plate I6 and accordingly when the circuit is closed, .7

between the rail l4 and the plate [6 the lamp II will be energized. However, when it is desired to illuminate a lamp being tested to its full brilliance it is placed in circuit with the rail l4 and plate I! which thereby does not affect the lamp ll, since the lamp is not in series with this circuit and therefore will not be energized.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. In a device for testing fuses and electric lights, a flat support of insulation material, a pair of opposed relatively converging conductor bars extending along said support and fixed thereon with sides disposed upwardly thereof and for bridging of said bars above the support by fuses of diiferent lengths placed on said bars, a conductor plate between said bars extending horizontally from one of said bars in the plane of the support with a side edge spaced close to and parallel with the other of said bars and on which different sizes of electric lights may he stood with the end contact thereof engaging said plate and the conductive base thereof engaging one side of said other bar to electrically bridge said plate and other bar, a pair of electric leads connected to corresponding ends of said bars to form therewith and with said plate an open electric circuit for closing by bridging of said bars, and by bridging of said plate and said other bar, an electric resistance lamp interposed in one lead in series in the circuit with said plate and other conductor bar to glow and limit the flow of current through said fuses and electric lights, and means betwen said bars for electrical bradging to said other bar by the end contact and base of an electric light and being connected in said circuit in advance of said resistance lamp to form in said circuit a shunt circuit by-passing said lamp whereby to test electric lights without limiting the flow of current therethrough.

2. In a device for testing fuses and electric lights, a flat support of insulation material, a

. file of this patent:

pair of opposed relatively converging" conductor bars extending along said support and fixed thereon with sides disposed upwardly thereof and for bridging of said bars above the support :by fuses o1 diiferent lengths placed on said bars, a conductor plate between said bars extending horizontally from one of said bars in the plane of the support with a side edge spaced close to and parallel with the other of said conductor bars and on which different sizes of electric lights may he stood with the end contact thereof engaging said plate and the conductive base thereof engaging one side of said other bar to electrically bridge said plate and other bar, a pair ofelectric leads connected to corresponding ends of said bars to form therewith and with said plate an open electric circuit for closing by bridging of said bars, and by bridging of said plate and said other bar, and an electric resistance lamp interposed in one lead in series in the circuit with said plate and other conductor bar. to glow and limit the flow of current through said fuses and electric lights.

3. Ina device for testing fuses and three-way electric lights with a conductor base, an end contact button, and a relatively smaller annular bottom contact on said base, said device comprising a flat support of insulation material, a pair of opposed relatively converging conductor bars extending along said support and fixed thereon with sides disposed upwardly of said base for bridging of said bars above the support by fuses of different lengths placed on said bars, a pair of electric leads connected to corresponding ends of said bars to form therewith an open electric circuit for closing by bridging of said bars, an electric resistance lamp in one lead in series in the circuit with said bars to glow and limit the flow of current through said fuses, a conductor plate betweensaid bars in the plane of the support having an edge portion spaced close to and parallel with one conductor bar and for engagement by the button of an electric light with the conductive base of the light engaging one side of said bar to bridge said plate and bar, said plate having an upstanding rib thereon for engagement by the annular contact of an electric light with the conductive base of the light resting on said one bar to bridge said plate and bar, and said plate being connected in said circuit in advance of the resistance lamp to form in said circuit a shunt circuit by-passing said lamp, whereby to test electric lights by bridging of said plate and one bar without limiting the flow of current through said lights.

JESUS ,BRISEfiO.

REFERENCES CITED. The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,367,285 Stimmel Feb. 1, 1921 2,167,209 Huskey July 25, 1939 

